Chouji closes his eyes, grimaces, nods. "And he doesn't know? His teammates don't know?" Chouji may be willing to take the responsibility for breaking awful news to his own teammates, but he wouldn't even know where to start with Gai's students. Plus, it's different when it's your own death. The idea of Neji knowing he'll go home only to die is awful.

The next part is hard to take, and a sharp intake of breath precedes his words. "Asuma-sensei? He's... he's alive here?"